Regions › Oceania › New Zealand
New Zealand. Growing season October–April, harvest usually March–April. 26 vintages of weather, 2000–2025.
Photo: Marek Ślusarczyk (Tupungato) Photo portfolio, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Over the 30 growing seasons from 1991 to 2020, Central Otago's vines saw on average 880 growing degree days between October and April. That puts it in Winkler region I, close in heat and rain to Mosel, Wachau and Rheingau. In a typical year about 351 mm of rain falls in the growing season, 91 mm of it in March–April.
Since 2000 the warmest season was 2018 (+44% against normal) and the coolest 2004 (-19%). The wettest harvest window was 2010, with 165 mm against a normal 91 mm.
The last 10 vintages (2016–2025) averaged +25% against the 1991–2020 normal, compared with -5% for 2000–2009; 9 of those 10 seasons were warmer than normal by more than 3%.
Growing degree days (base 10°C) for each season. The dashed line is the 1991–2020 normal (880 GDD) and the shaded band one standard deviation either side: about two years in three fall inside it.
Full bar: rain over the whole growing season. Dark part: rain in the harvest window (March–April). The line is the normal season total, 351 mm.
Oct 2024–Apr 2025
Much warmer
Hot months: Dec +2.6° Feb +3.4° Mar +2.4° Apr +2.4°
Bars: mean daily high each month (red = 2°C or more above normal, blue = that much below). Line: the 1991–2020 normal.
Rank 3 of 26 for heat · Winkler I
Oct 2023–Apr 2024
Much warmer
Hot months: Dec +2.5°
Bars: mean daily high each month (red = 2°C or more above normal, blue = that much below). Line: the 1991–2020 normal.
Rank 7 of 26 for heat · Winkler I
Oct 2022–Apr 2023
Much warmer
Hot months: Nov +2.2° Jan +3.8° Feb +2.3°
Bars: mean daily high each month (red = 2°C or more above normal, blue = that much below). Line: the 1991–2020 normal.
Rank 4 of 26 for heat · Winkler I
Oct 2021–Apr 2022
Much warmer
Hot months: Oct +2.3° Nov +2.8° Jan +3.5° Mar +3.4° Apr +2.4°
Bars: mean daily high each month (red = 2°C or more above normal, blue = that much below). Line: the 1991–2020 normal.
Rank 2 of 26 for heat · Winkler I
Oct 2020–Apr 2021
Much warmer
Hot months: Nov +2.4° Feb +2.1°
Bars: mean daily high each month (red = 2°C or more above normal, blue = that much below). Line: the 1991–2020 normal.
Rank 6 of 26 for heat · Winkler I
Oct 2019–Apr 2020
Much warmer
Hot months: Nov +2.6°
Bars: mean daily high each month (red = 2°C or more above normal, blue = that much below). Line: the 1991–2020 normal.
Rank 9 of 26 for heat · Winkler I
Oct 2018–Apr 2019
Much warmer
Hot months: Dec +2.3° Mar +3.6°
Bars: mean daily high each month (red = 2°C or more above normal, blue = that much below). Line: the 1991–2020 normal.
Rank 5 of 26 for heat · Winkler I
Oct 2017–Apr 2018
Much warmer
Hot months: Oct +3.2° Nov +3.1° Dec +3.9° Jan +5.4°
Bars: mean daily high each month (red = 2°C or more above normal, blue = that much below). Line: the 1991–2020 normal.
Rank 1 of 26 for heat · Winkler I
Oct 2016–Apr 2017
Cooler
No month ran 2°C above its normal high
Bars: mean daily high each month (red = 2°C or more above normal, blue = that much below). Line: the 1991–2020 normal.
Rank 20 of 26 for heat · Winkler I
Oct 2015–Apr 2016
Much warmer
Hot months: Feb +2.6°
Bars: mean daily high each month (red = 2°C or more above normal, blue = that much below). Line: the 1991–2020 normal.
Rank 8 of 26 for heat · Winkler I
Oct 2014–Apr 2015
Warmer
No month ran 2°C above its normal high
Bars: mean daily high each month (red = 2°C or more above normal, blue = that much below). Line: the 1991–2020 normal.
Rank 15 of 26 for heat · Winkler I
Oct 2013–Apr 2014
Much warmer
No month ran 2°C above its normal high
Bars: mean daily high each month (red = 2°C or more above normal, blue = that much below). Line: the 1991–2020 normal.
Rank 10 of 26 for heat · Winkler I
Oct 2012–Apr 2013
Warmer
Hot months: Mar +2.5°
Bars: mean daily high each month (red = 2°C or more above normal, blue = that much below). Line: the 1991–2020 normal.
Rank 13 of 26 for heat · Winkler I
Oct 2011–Apr 2012
Near normal
No month ran 2°C above its normal high
Bars: mean daily high each month (red = 2°C or more above normal, blue = that much below). Line: the 1991–2020 normal.
Rank 18 of 26 for heat · Winkler I
Oct 2010–Apr 2011
Warmer
Hot months: Nov +3.2°
Bars: mean daily high each month (red = 2°C or more above normal, blue = that much below). Line: the 1991–2020 normal.
Rank 12 of 26 for heat · Winkler I
Oct 2009–Apr 2010
Near normal
No month ran 2°C above its normal high
Bars: mean daily high each month (red = 2°C or more above normal, blue = that much below). Line: the 1991–2020 normal.
Rank 19 of 26 for heat · Winkler I
Oct 2008–Apr 2009
Cooler
No month ran 2°C above its normal high
Bars: mean daily high each month (red = 2°C or more above normal, blue = that much below). Line: the 1991–2020 normal.
Rank 21 of 26 for heat · Winkler I
Oct 2007–Apr 2008
Much warmer
Hot months: Jan +2.6°
Bars: mean daily high each month (red = 2°C or more above normal, blue = that much below). Line: the 1991–2020 normal.
Rank 11 of 26 for heat · Winkler I
Oct 2006–Apr 2007
Much cooler
No month ran 2°C above its normal high
Bars: mean daily high each month (red = 2°C or more above normal, blue = that much below). Line: the 1991–2020 normal.
Rank 24 of 26 for heat · Winkler I
Oct 2005–Apr 2006
Warmer
Hot months: Dec +2.2°
Bars: mean daily high each month (red = 2°C or more above normal, blue = that much below). Line: the 1991–2020 normal.
Rank 16 of 26 for heat · Winkler I
Oct 2004–Apr 2005
Much cooler
No month ran 2°C above its normal high
Bars: mean daily high each month (red = 2°C or more above normal, blue = that much below). Line: the 1991–2020 normal.
Rank 22 of 26 for heat · Winkler I
Oct 2003–Apr 2004
Much cooler
No month ran 2°C above its normal high
Bars: mean daily high each month (red = 2°C or more above normal, blue = that much below). Line: the 1991–2020 normal.
Rank 26 of 26 for heat · Winkler I
Oct 2002–Apr 2003
Much cooler
No month ran 2°C above its normal high
Bars: mean daily high each month (red = 2°C or more above normal, blue = that much below). Line: the 1991–2020 normal.
Rank 23 of 26 for heat · Winkler I
Oct 2001–Apr 2002
Warmer
No month ran 2°C above its normal high
Bars: mean daily high each month (red = 2°C or more above normal, blue = that much below). Line: the 1991–2020 normal.
Rank 14 of 26 for heat · Winkler I
Oct 2000–Apr 2001
Much cooler
No month ran 2°C above its normal high
Bars: mean daily high each month (red = 2°C or more above normal, blue = that much below). Line: the 1991–2020 normal.
Rank 25 of 26 for heat · Winkler I
Oct 1999–Apr 2000
Near normal
Hot months: Oct +2.0°
Bars: mean daily high each month (red = 2°C or more above normal, blue = that much below). Line: the 1991–2020 normal.
Rank 17 of 26 for heat · Winkler I
| Vintage | GDD | vs normal | Season rain | Harvest rain | Hottest month (mean high) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,210 | +38% | 314 mm | 85 mm | February 27.1°C |
| 2024 | 1,030 | +18% | 326 mm | 110 mm | January 25.4°C |
| 2023 | 1,160 | +33% | 313 mm | 108 mm | January 27.7°C |
| 2022 | 1,250 | +43% | 293 mm | 54 mm | January 27.4°C |
| 2021 | 1,070 | +22% | 316 mm | 56 mm | February 25.8°C |
| 2020 | 1,010 | +15% | 402 mm | 78 mm | January 25.7°C |
| 2019 | 1,090 | +25% | 400 mm | 126 mm | January 25.9°C |
| 2018 | 1,260 | +44% | 334 mm | 124 mm | January 29.3°C |
| 2017 | 840 | -4% | 363 mm | 52 mm | February 23.3°C |
| 2016 | 1,020 | +17% | 268 mm | 65 mm | February 26.3°C |
| 2015 | 910 | +4% | 331 mm | 107 mm | January 25.9°C |
| 2014 | 950 | +9% | 359 mm | 91 mm | February 24.2°C |
| 2013 | 930 | +6% | 338 mm | 61 mm | February 25.6°C |
| 2012 | 870 | -1% | 321 mm | 73 mm | December 24.2°C |
| 2011 | 940 | +7% | 377 mm | 92 mm | December 23.8°C |
| 2010 | 850 | -3% | 369 mm | 165 mm | February 25.0°C |
| 2009 | 830 | -6% | 333 mm | 83 mm | January 24.3°C |
| 2008 | 950 | +9% | 314 mm | 77 mm | January 26.5°C |
| 2007 | 790 | -10% | 331 mm | 76 mm | February 24.3°C |
| 2006 | 900 | +3% | 325 mm | 100 mm | December 24.9°C |
| 2005 | 800 | -9% | 336 mm | 88 mm | February 24.8°C |
| 2004 | 710 | -19% | 323 mm | 62 mm | January 24.5°C |
| 2003 | 790 | -9% | 286 mm | 47 mm | January 23.5°C |
| 2002 | 920 | +5% | 348 mm | 78 mm | January 23.2°C |
| 2001 | 750 | -14% | 329 mm | 62 mm | February 23.6°C |
| 2000 | 880 | +0% | 410 mm | 90 mm | February 24.0°C |
| 1991–2020 | 880 | ±16% (1 SD) | 351 mm | 91 mm |
The closest matches on this site by normal heat and season rain. Similar weather is one ingredient; soils, slopes and grapes differ.
